Capiz congressional bets favor abolition of pork barrel if...
ROXAS CITY – Congressional bets from different parties here share a common opinion that it is better to abolish the Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) or pork barrel if such funds will only go to the pocket of congressmen and not properly used for projects.
Expressing the common opinion were reelectionist Rep. Antonio del Rosario of Liberal Party (LP), Vice Gov. Felipe Barredo of Ugyon Kita Capiz (UKC), Diosdado Tinsay (independent), all are candidates for 1st district congressman and Former PNP Chief retired Gen. Roberto “Bobby” Lastimoso of LP, congressional candidate for 2nd district of Capiz during the ‘Pagpakilala’ (know your local candidates forum) hosted by the College of Law of the Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion. Lastimosos’s opponent Mrs Jane Castro, wife of Rep. Fredenil Castro, was not around during the forum.
“I agree that the ‘pork barrel’ will be abolished provided that the national government will take care of all the scholarship programs of the congressional district, infrastructure projects, financial assistance, etc. for the people,” Del Rosario said.
According to him, the pork barrel has always an issue of corruption but as long as it is properly implemented and should the congressman will not pocket the funds then there is nothing wrong with it.
On his part, Barredo said that he is also amenable to scrap the CDF if the funds will be corrupted however, if the funds will be used for the projects then there’s no need to abolish it.
According to Barredo, the CDF of the congressmen help fund the projects of the local government units (LGUs).
Dadivas also shared the same opinion by saying that had the pork barrel was abolished when he was congressman, he was not able to build gyms in different towns, public markets, concreting of roads and other projects.
Tinsay said that the CDF should be abolished. “I was a contractor before, congressman should not get involved with the works, You know what I mean,” Tinsay added.
Lastimoso, on his part, said that the ‘pork barrel’ per se is not bad if it is properly implemented. He said that once elected as congressman in the 2nd district, he will install the ‘watch dog’ committee to see to it that the CDF will go to the projects.
Meanwhile, reelectionist Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr. of LP and opponent former Agriculture Usec Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante of UKC and their running mate for vice governors: Board Member Nonoy Contreras and former City Councilor Mark Ortiz, respectively, were also present during the forum and presented themselves and their platforms of government.
Reelectionist City Mayor Vicente Bermejo and running mate City Councilor Dennis Altobano, all of UKC and opponent Former City Councilor and Mayoral Candidate Alan Celino and running mate reelectionist Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas were also there to present themselves and answered five issues concerning on what they will do once elected into office.
Present during the forum were: Mngr. Vicente Hilata, CPC rector and Vicar General; Fr. Arbatin as moderator, Glenn Baes, mayoral and board members bets of both LP and UKC, among others.
